Fastener



Aug- 27, 1940. n. A. BRENNAN y 2,212,896

FASTENER Filed April 2l, 1938 312 2 MWI? 59T x g 592 m/enor'. al 59236g5 is Patented Aug. 27, 194() f UNirED STATES PATENT carica ASTENERDaniel A. Brennan, Chicago, Ill.; Elmer L.

Zwickel executor ceased of Daniel A. Brennan,` de- Application April 21,193s', serial No. 203,293

7 Claims.

The invention relates to paper fasteners of lthe type having spacedprongs and a compressor apertured to receive said prongs, and moreparticularly to the compressor thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide a paper fastener compressor ofthe type having latches slidable thereon, one coniined to each end,having means to retain the latches frictionally at either lside of therespective prong apertures therein.

Another object is to .provide fastener com pressors of the aforesaidtype with novel strucstructed paper fastener compressors which areinexpensive' to construct, simple to operate and highly eicient in use.

' The foregoing and such other objects of the invention as will morefully appear hereinafter as the description proceeds will be morereadily understood from a perusal of the following specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plane view of another form of fas-V tener.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional line 2-1-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on line`3-3 of Fig. 1. Yv"Figi 4 is a central longitudinal sectional -view of another embodimentof the invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4 show- -ing anotherembodiment of the invention.

view taken on Fig. 6 is a plan view of another type of fastener.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 'l-'l of Fig. 6.

In the drawing, like numerals identify like parts.

Referring particularly tothe device shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 thefastener includes a base l provided at its ends with bendable prongs 2adapted to pass through spaced openings 3 in a compressor ily when thelatter is placed in co- The base normally is (c1. ski- 153) flanges 36geach formed with an offset 69a substantially midway between thecompressor ends to define two pairs of parallel tracks, one pairextending inwardly from. eachv end ofvthe compressor. v shown, ordownwardly. A central longitudinal rib |26, shown in two sections, maybe continu- K ous between said apertures but preferably stopping shortof said apertures..`

Ribs or projections 69, providedjone in each track, preferably in`transverse alignment with the adjacent aperture 3, are of suicientheight to resist free` slidingof the latches 3|y past the apertures ineither direction, thereby providing frictional elements to frictionallyretain the latches at the respective compressore'uds outwardly of Atheapertures priorto assembling the fastener. Y Y

After the Vprongs -2 are bent down inwardly toward each other over andagainst the central rib |26, the latches are shifted past saidfrictional elements 69 into position over the underlying prong. lMovement of the latches 'inwardlyv 01T the free end of said prongsisprevented by stops 34 on the prong ends. The central offset 69a in eachmarginal compressor` ange 362/y also pre'- vents movement of eitherlatch inwardly beyond the transverse center of the compressor.

When the latch `3|y is in latching position over the prong, said prongisconfined between said latch and the underlying rib l|26, and freemovement ofthe latch is resisted by the inherent resiliency of theprong.

In Fig. 4, the same compressor as is shown in Fig. 1 isi illustrated.`In this embodiment the base has its prongs 2 formed on their ends withstops 36 and short tapered ribs |21. As shown, the ribs |21 co-act withthe latches 3|1l to firmly bind the prong between the associated latchand central compressor rib |26 to prevent free sliding of the latchoutwardly oi the prong end.

The structure shown in Fig. 5 is like that illustrated in Fig. 1, exceptthat here each latch 3|?) has an aperture 66 to receive thestop-projection 34 on the underlying prong to interlockingly retain thelatch over the prong end.

Figs. 6 and 7 show a slightly modied compressor structure wherein thevertical friction ribs of the previously described devices areeliminated and lateral flares 692 are provided one on the free edge ofeach track 36g adjacent each aperture 3. As best shown in Fig. '7, theoverall width of the compressor at the flares is slightly greaterThese-offsets 69afmay be upwardly as than the inside transverse width ofthe latches time the latches are moved past the apertures. Thisarrangement is functionally different than those just described becausethe frictional resistance transversely tends to straighten out anyupward bowing effected vin the resilient bridge portions of the latchesdue to their having been forced up over the short rib 121 on the prongends.

Obviously the base elements shown in Fig. 1 or 5 or the apertured latchshown in Fig. 5 can be substituted for the respective elements applicanthas elected to show in Fig. 6 for the purpose of illustration.

Although various exemplary forms and adaptations of improved compressorshave been illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described indetail in the foregoing specication, it is to be understood that saidillustrations and description are illustrative rather than restrictiveand that each device may vary in structural details without departingfrom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A compressor for paper fasteners having apertures adjacent its ends,companion tracks arranged in pairs extending inwardly from the ends, alongitudinal rib between said apertures,

a latch mounted for sliding along each pair of tracks, and an upstandingprojection on each track in transverse alignment with each aperture tofrictionally retain the latches at the respective ends.

2. Apaper fastener compressor comprising, in combination, an elongatedplate apertured inwardly of each end, companion tracks arranged in pairsextending inwardly from the ends, a longitudinal rib between saidapertures, latches one mounted for sliding freely along each pair oftracks, and an elongated rib on each track in transverse alignment witheach aperture to .frictionally retard movement of the latches past theirrespective aperture.

3. A paper fastener compressor comprising, in combination, an elongatedplate apertured inwardly of each end, longitudinal flanges on said plateextending outwardly transversely, said flanges being elevated from theplane of said plate and being continuous substantially from end to endof said plate, two `latches slidable freely along said flanges, anoffset in each flange substantially at the compressor center to confinesaid latches one to each end, and a frictional element on each flange intransverse alignment with the respective aperture to frictionally retardfree movement of the latches respectively past their respectiveaperture.

4. A paper fastener compressor comprising, in combination, an elongatedplate apertured inwardly of each end, a central longitudinal rib betweensaid apertures, longitudinal flanges on said plate extending outwardlytransversely, said anges being elevated from the plane of said plate andbeing continuous substantially from end to end of said plate, twolatches slidable along said anges, an offset in each flangesubstantially at the compressor center to confine said latches one toeach end, and a frictional element on each flange in transversealignment with the respective aperture to frictionally retard freemovement of the latches respectively past their respective aperture.

5. A paper fastened compressor comprising, in combination, an elongatedplate 'apertured inwardly of each end, at least one longitudinal centralrib on the top face of said plate stopping short of said apertures,longitudinal flanges on the marginal edges of said plate, said flangesbeing in a plane above the top of said rib, latches mounted on andslidable freely along said flanges, and projections on each flange onealigned with each aperture to frictionally retard movement of thelatches past said apertures.

6. A paper fastener compressor comprising, in

wardly from each end, longitudinal central ribs on the upper face ofsaid plate extending inwardly from and stopping short of said apertures,longitudinal anges on the marginal edges of said plate, said flangesbeing elevated above f combination, an elongated plate apertured intheplane of the top of said ribs, latches mounted on and slidable alongsaid flanges, projections on each flange one aligned with each apertureto frictionally retard movement of the latches past said apertures', anda stop in each flange midway the ends of said plate to conne the latchesone to each end.

l 7. A paper fastener compressor comprising, in combination, anelongated plate adapted to receive prongs bent down thereover, upwardlyand' latches bridging the channel'

